Thursday, January 19, 2006

One good thing about quitting your job is all the free time. I have been catching up on all KINDS of good shit these days.

I recently realized that I needed to read a lot of books that it seems like everyone is supposed to have read, but I am an idiot and haven't - "Catcher in the Rye," "Catch-22," "Slaughterhouse-5," "Brave New World," "1984," etc. I know - "you haven't read those!?!??!"

Yes - I suck.

I loved 1984, Catcher in the Rye was okay and so far Catch-22 is pretty good. But the one I loved the most was "Hangover Square" by Patrick Hamilton, and all of a sudden I am a HUGE Patrick Hamilton fan. I only found out about him (I suspect like a lot of people) because of Nick Hornby - another favorite author. Nick Hornby's book "The Pollysyllabic Spree" (a collection of his book reviews) includes reviews of Hamilton's stuff and a selection from his book "The Midnight Bell"

I liked the selection and took Hornby's praise to heart. I read Hangover Square and loved it. The problem is... IT'S THE ONLY ONE OF HIS BOOKS CURRENTLY IN PRINT IN AMERICA!!!!

I had to send away to the UK to get "Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky." I hope I do not regret that... but I don't think I will.

I have also checked out the two movies made based on Hamilton plays - "Gaslight" (with Ingrid Bergman and Joseph Cotten - need I say more?) and Hitchock's (need I say more?) "Rope." Needless to say - I would highly recommend these to anyone who is interested in such things and hasn't already checked them out. The cool thing about the Gaslight DVD is that it also comes with th 1940 British version of the film which, if anything - is better!

One last note - Hornby only got into Hamilton because of a band, Marah, who loves his stuff and even entitled an album "20,000 Streets Under the Sky." Needless to say, I had to backtrack and check them out - what I have heard so far is pretty damn cool. Check out their web-page yourself and download a track or two. It doesn't suck. I just ordered 20,000 Streets - I'll let you know if it is worthwhile or not - if anyone cares. Not that anyone reads this crap...

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

The process of trying to pimp yourself out to a bunch of people who know nothing about you, and care less, for no reason other than (in my case) you need health insurance, is obnoxious and ridiculous. It sucks huge ass. Doesn't everyone already know how cool I am? Shouldn't I get paid for that? Wait - I already make enough money... I just need benefits. Why can't I get benefits as a musician/teacher? Why does my life suck so? Why do I need a desk job? Why can't we have universal health care? I'm not a political animal, but when it makes me go job-hunting all of a sudden I care, mother-fucker - I care! Let me know where to picket and I'm there. Just one question... this protesting gig - it comes with a dental plan, right?

Maybe I'll move to Canada.

I'll take the Marlins with me, and move them to the only market that makes sense - Montreal.